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A play that started as a university dissertation before winning an award at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival is returning to its roots this weekend – with a performance at Caerphilly Miners’ Centre.

Cyn, created by writer Sam Rees, from Seven Sisters, and director Seren Davies from Caerphilly, tells the story of life in the South Wales Valleys after the decline of the coal industry.

Set in a valleys pub in 1995, Cyn – which is Welsh for ‘before’ – combines live music, audience participation, and poignant storytelling to explore the impact of pit closures on Welsh communities.

Seren told Caerphilly Observer: “It started as our dissertation piece and then it went to Edinburgh, and now we’re bringing it back to the valleys – the place that inspired its creation.

“I think it’ll be really heartfelt here, because people can really relate to the story and see the effects in person around these areas.”

The English-language performance will be held on Sunday September 21, with the first show starting at 3pm, and the second at 7pm

From classroom project to Fringe award

Seren, who studied English and Theatre at the University of Warwick, worked with writer Sam Rees, from Seven Sisters in the Dulais Valley – and musical director Jed Kain, from South Africa – to bring the play to life.

“Sam and I both wanted to do something Welsh right off the cuff, because we were the only two Welsh people in our year group.

“We both had separate ideas that we brought together, and they were both coincidentally about the mining communities in the valleys – so we brought them together.”

Sam, who wrote the play, and Jed star alongside fellow performer Charlie Muskett, while Seren plays a barmaid.

The show includes live music performed by trumpeter Ethan Delcroix and cellist Caitlyn Bailey.

Also involved in the performance is tech operator Freya Bradshaw and marketing designer Ellyn Kendall.

“We all met together at Warwick,” Seren explained. “Three of us worked together to do it as a dissertation piece, and then the others were students that we pulled in from different places. We pulled in the musicians from the folk society bands.

“We’re all from different year groups in Warwick, so some of us have graduated, but some of us are going back.”

Cyn centres on Emyr, a 24-year-old grappling with the legacy of the closure of the mines in his community.

As part of their writing, Seren and her group interviewed people who experienced the Miners’ Strike and spoke to them about how their communities changed following the pit closures.

Originally an hour-and-a-half piece, Cyn was adapted to fit the shorter one-hour slots at the Edinburgh Fringe. However, audiences in Caerphilly will be treated to the full 90-minute performance.

Performing in a 40-seat venue at the Fringe Festival, the production played to full audiences – and their hard work was recognised when the play went on to win the Fringe Theatre Award.

“In the first performance, we were all shaking, but it went really well,” Seren said. “Then as the week went on, we got into the swing of things. By the end, we were all really excited and we had reviewers come in and review the show, and we managed to get loads of four-star reviews, which was great.” 

The show features covers of songs from Max Boyce, who personally gave permission for his music to be used.

Homecoming

After successful runs in Warwick and Edinburgh, the play is embarking on a short Welsh tour. Following a sold-out performance in Onllwyn, near Seven Sisters, this Saturday, Cyn will be staged at Caerphilly Miners’ Centre on Sunday.

Seren believes the show will resonate strongly with local audiences.

“The play is about this grief for the loss of community and the loss of the environment that once was in the valleys,” she said. “It’s just beautiful to see how the audience can be a collective in this play. They’re united as an audience watching this play, and that’s what we aim to do.”

With further plans to tour across south Wales in November – and the possibility of a bigger UK tour next year – Cyn looks set to continue growing. But for Seren, this homecoming show carries a special significance.

“We’ve sold out 180 seats in Onllwyn already,” she said. “I really hope Caerphilly turns out too.”

Visit Eventbrite to get tickets for performance in Caerphilly.